Building on your lot in Crescent City

Each rule below is marked Crescent City code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

Fences and walls

Crescent City code What Crescent City's code adds
Corner visibility	On residential corner lots, vision must not be materially impeded between three and ten feet above the centerline grades, within the area bounded by lot lines and a line joining points thirty-five feet from the intersection. Applies: Residential districts § 17.40.020 · code text D. On a corner lot in any residential district, no fence shall be erected or plants permitted to grow in such a manner as to materially impede vision between the height of three and ten feet above the centerline grades of the intersecting streets in the area bounded by the lot lines of such corner lots in a line joining points along such lot lines thirty-five feet from the point of intersection. On Coastal Zone residential corner lots, vision must not be materially impeded between two and one-half and ten feet above the centerline grades, within the area bounded by lot lines and a line joining points twenty feet from the intersection. Applies: Coastal Zone residential districts § 17.75.020 · code text D. On a corner lot in any residential district, no fence shall be erected or plants permitted to grow in such a manner as to materially impede vision between the height of two and one-half and ten feet above the centerline grades of the intersecting streets in the area bounded by the lot lines of such corner lots in a line joining points along such lot lines twenty feet from the point of intersection. Within twenty feet of the side street curb, fences or hedges may not exceed thirty-six inches, except fences may reach forty-eight inches if uniformly open by thirty-three and one-third percent. Applies: Corner lots § 17.40.030 · code text On corner lots, for a distance of twenty feet from the side street curb, no fence or hedge shall exceed a maximum height above grade of thirty-six inches except that the fence may be erected to a maximum height of forty-eight inches; provided, that any fence which exceeds thirty-six inches is uniformly open to the extent of thirty-three and one-third percent. Fences or hedges over 36 inches must be at least 5 feet from the side street lot line. Applies: Coastal Zone corner lots that are not reversed corner lots. § 17.75.030 · code text A. Corner Lots. On corner lots which are not reversed corner lots, no fence or hedge exceeding thirty-six inches in height shall be permitted closer than five feet to the side street lot line. Fences or hedges over 36 inches must be at least 10 feet from the side street lot line. Applies: Coastal Zone reversed corner lots. § 17.75.030 · code text B. Reversed Corner Lots. On reversed corner lots, no fence or hedge exceeding thirty-six inches in height shall be permitted closer than ten feet to the side street lot line.
Height anywhere on the lot	No more than 6 feet high. Applies: Rear yards in residential districts. § 17.40.020 · code text B. Rear yards, maximum height six feet above grade;
Side and rear yard height	No more than 8 feet high. Applies: Rear yards in Coastal Zone residential districts. § 17.75.020 · code text B. Rear yards, maximum height eight feet above grade; No more than 6 feet high. Applies: Side yards in residential districts. § 17.40.020 · code text C. Side yards, maximum height six feet above grade;
Front yard height	No more than 36 inches high. Applies: Front yards in residential districts. § 17.40.020 · code text A. Front yards, maximum height above grade not to exceed thirty-sixty inches except that the fence may be erected to a maximum height of forty-eight inches; forty-eight inches Applies: Residential districts; front-yard fence exceeds thirty-six inches and is uniformly open to the extent of thirty-three and one-third percent § 17.40.020 · code text A. Front yards, maximum height above grade not to exceed thirty-sixty inches except that the fence may be erected to a maximum height of forty-eight inches; provided, that any fence which exceeds thirty-six inches is uniformly open to the extent of thirty-three and one-third percent. No more than 36 inches high. Applies: Front yards in Coastal Zone residential districts. § 17.75.020 · code text A. Front yards, maximum height above grade not to exceed thirty-six inches except that the fence may be erected to a maximum height of forty-eight inches; forty-eight inches Applies: Coastal Zone residential districts; front-yard fence exceeds thirty-six inches and is uniformly open to the extent of thirty-three and one-third percent § 17.75.020 · code text A. Front yards, maximum height above grade not to exceed thirty-six inches except that the fence may be erected to a maximum height of forty-eight inches; provided, that any fence which exceeds thirty-six inches is uniformly open to the extent of thirty-three and one-third percent. Up to 6 feet high. Applies: Key lot front yards on the side next to a reversed corner lot's rear yard, from a point 20 feet from the curb. § 17.40.030 · code text B. Key Lots. In the front yard of a key lot on the side which abuts the rear yard of a reversed corner lot, a fence may be erected or a hedge permitted to grow to a maximum height of six feet upon a point twenty feet from the curb. Up to 6 feet high. Applies: Coastal Zone key lot front yards on the side next to a reversed corner lot's rear yard, up to 10 feet from the front line. § 17.75.030 · code text C. Key Lots. In the front yard of a key lot on the side which abuts the rear yard of a reversed corner lot, a fence may be erected or a hedge permitted to grow to a maximum height of six feet up to a point of ten feet from the front property line.
Permit	Yes. Fences in the street right-of-way need a permit. Applies: A street right-of-way encroachment permit from the director of public works. § 17.40.030 · code text Fences may be built within the street right-of-way if a street right-of-way encroachment permit is obtained from the director of public works.

Running a business from home

Crescent City code What Crescent City's code adds
Employees	Only people who live in the home may work in the business. Applies: Home occupations. § 17.61.235 · code text No persons other than residents in the home shall be employed in the conduct of the home occupation.

RV and boat parking

Crescent City code What Crescent City's code adds
Parking on the street	No more than 8 hours in any 24-hour period without a city permit. Applies: Applies to oversized vehicles on any city street, right-of-way or city parking lot; park at least 50 feet from intersections. § 12.40.030 · code text No person shall park any oversized vehicle on any city street, city right-of-way or city parking lot for more than eight hours in any twenty-four-hour period without first obtaining a permit from the city. Up to 7 nights in a row in any 30-day period. Applies: One permit for a resident's own or guest's oversized vehicle, parked fully in front of the resident's property on the same side. § 12.40.040 · code text City residents may receive one permit for up to seven consecutive nights in any thirty-day period.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Crescent City code What Crescent City's code adds
Solar permit process	Once the building official confirms the application meets the city's checklist and applicable laws, all needed permits are issued. § 15.40.060 · code text Upon confirmation by the building official that the permit application and supporting documents meet the requirements of the city's checklist, and is consistent with all applicable laws, the building official shall, consistent with Government Code Section 65850.5, approve the application and issue all necessary permits.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Crescent City?

In residential districts, front-yard fences are limited to 36 inches, or 48 if one-third open; side and rear yards, 6 feet.

Can I run a business from my home in Crescent City?

City rule: no one other than residents of the home may work in a home business.

Can I park an RV or boat at my home in Crescent City?

Crescent City's code: No more than 8 hours in any 24-hour period without a city permit. (Applies to oversized vehicles on any city street, right-of-way or city parking lot; park at least 50 feet from intersections.) (§ 12.40.030); Up to 7 nights in a row in any 30-day period. (One permit for a resident's own or guest's oversized vehicle, parked fully in front of the resident's property on the same side.) (§ 12.40.040).

Do I need a permit for solar panels or an EV charger in Crescent City?

Crescent City's code: Once the building official confirms the application meets the city's checklist and applicable laws, all needed permits are issued. (§ 15.40.060).